One particular incident that begins to move Joe Miller from his initial position of exclusion would be what he witnesses in the library. Both Miller and Beckett are in the law library researching. Miller recognizes how Beckett is a colleague and yet, he recognizes how he is looked at with disdain and rejection. This causes Miller to extend a supportive hand to Beckett in a time of need. This is one incident that causes Miller's attitude towards Andrew Beckett to change.

Certainly, the zeal with which Miller advocates for Beckett can represent another incident in which he changes his initial attitude. Miller recognizes the gravity of the mission he is on, the crusade he has forged with Andrew Beckett. While Miller is presenting a case that is to change how society views individuals of different sexual identities, it is more about how he changes. This "gratifying" notion of change comes about because of the level and zeal with which Miller defends Andrew Beckett and the cause that he represents. The ending in which Miller touches his face reflects how much he has changed, from one who was afraid to touch or shake hands with Andrew to one who embraces his face and sees him as a child at the end of the narrative. The case itself causes change to Joe Miller, representing how individuals are capable of change and can be their agents of transformation in social and personal issues.